A Pasco County school employee is facing a federal indictment that accuses him of possessing child sex abuse material, according to officials. The grand jury indictment names 51-year-old Joel Thomas Lust of New Port Richey and alleges he had images and videos showing the sexual abuse of a child younger than 12. The case is pending in U.S. District Court in Tampa.
Indictment details
According to the federal indictment filed last Thursday, prosecutors say Lust knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view visual depictions involving a prepubescent minor and a minor under 12 between March 19, 2023, and May 15, 2024. The charging document also includes forfeiture language that targets a Samsung model SM-S918U cellphone as property traceable to the alleged offense. The federal indictment lays out the single-count charge under 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B).
Investigation and prosecution
The case was investigated by the FBI and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The office has assigned Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry to handle the case in federal court, and it publicly announced the indictment in a post on X.
School district response
The U.S. Attorney’s Office titled its written release "Pasco County School Employee Charged With Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material" and did not list a specific school or describe Lust’s job duties in the district. As of Tuesday, Pasco County Schools’ online news page did not include a statement about the case, although the site provides media contact information for reporters seeking comment. The release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida and the district’s news page were reviewed for those details.
Local context
The indictment is the latest high-profile child sex abuse material case connected to Pasco County. Earlier incidents have already put the district under a harsh spotlight, with law enforcement and school officials issuing strong public statements in response. Coverage of an unrelated May 2025 arrest of a longtime Pasco music teacher highlighted how similar investigations have triggered district and state-level reactions. See Teacher Arrested In Pasco County and reporting by FOX 13 for background on that separate case.
What happens next
An indictment is a formal accusation and does not establish guilt. Lust, like any defendant, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or through a plea. If convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B) for possession involving a prepubescent minor or a child under 12, federal law allows for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of electronic devices seized in the case, including the identified Samsung phone, with follow-up court proceedings to be scheduled through the Middle District of Florida docket. The federal indictment and 18 U.S.C. § 2252 outline the legal framework.
